Page 205 - CityofSouthlakeFY26AdoptedBudget

Fire Department - Department Goals

CITY-WIDE GOAL: Foster positive employee engagement.

Department Goal: Foster a servant leadership culture to strengthen organizational cohesion and morale.

Implementation Strategy:
• Integrate servant leadership training into officer development and new hire onboarding to instill a
consistent leadership philosophy focused on empathy, accountability, and service-oriented decision- City Department Overview
making.
• Facilitate peer-led workshops and scenario-based exercises that reinforce servant leadership behaviors
in operational contexts, including conflict resolution, team-building, and mentoring.
• Host regular informal station visits and roundtable discussions with department leadership and on-
duty crews to facilitate open dialogue, strengthen relationships, and identify concerns or improvement
opportunities in real time. These face-to-face interactions will help build trust, reinforce cultural values,
and ensure leadership remains connected to day-to-day challenges.

CITY-WIDE GOAL: Develop a highly qualified, motivated, well-trained, and innovative
workforce to serve the needs of an evolving community by solidifying a learning culture and
implementing recommendations from the City of Southlake’s Organizational Learning and
Development Strategic Operations Plan.

Department Goal: Advance professional growth and leadership development to prepare future leaders
and strengthen workforce engagement.

Implementation Strategy:
• Establish a formal mentorship program that pairs senior personnel with aspiring leaders to provide
guidance, share experiences, and offer support on leadership skills, promotional preparation, and
career planning.
• Expand participation in leadership academies by identifying internal candidates and sponsoring
attendance at recognized programs such as TEEX, NFA, or local municipal leadership cohorts to
ensure consistent exposure to industry standards and innovation.
• Develop individualized career development plans during performance reviews to include recommended
courses, certifications, training benchmarks, and opportunities for shadowing or temporary duty
assignments.

CITY-WIDE GOAL: Improve accountability structures for stronger efficacy by streamlining
systems and reinforcing strategic alignment throughout all levels of the organization through
implementation tools such as departmental business/work plans, business unit scorecards,
comprehensive planning, and other accountability mechanisms.

Department Goal: Review and optimize policies to improve performance and morale.

Implementation Strategy:
• Launch a comprehensive review of all departmental SOPs, policies, and guidelines with a focus on
clarity, relevance, and alignment with current fire service best practices and legal standards.
• Form a cross-functional policy review committee including members from suppression, prevention,
EMS, and administration to ensure diverse input and operational practicality in updates.
• Establish a continuous policy improvement cycle where employees can submit suggestions for revision
and leadership provides quarterly updates on changes and rationale.

FY 2026 City of Southlake | Budget Book 205